Gold Coast
THE INNS OF THE GOLD COAST: Gold Coast Guest House & Flemish House
GOLD COAST
Chicago's Gold Coast neighborhood is the premier residential area on the city's North Side, and is considered the "old money" section of town. It is also the ideal area for out-of-town guests. Luxury high-rises and rows of century-old mansions reside in quiet contrast to the lively stores, restaurants and nightspots of Michigan Avenue, Rush and Division Streets. Historical landmarks and preservation districts mark much of the area, including the Astor Street Historic District.
The “Loop” financial district, fabulous Navy Pier and our world-class museums are walking distance from the Gold Coast, or only minutes away by bus, subway or taxi.
The neighborhood is generally defined north to south from Oak Street up to Lincoln Park (at North Avenue) and east to west from Lake Michigan to Old Town (at Wells Street).
Shopping
Oak Street is the Gold Coast's boutique row, and shops include Marilyn Miglin, Ultimo, Jil Sander, Hermes, Prada, Pratesi, Judith Ripka, St. John's, Donald Pliner, Sulka and Barney's New York department store.
Right around the corner begins North Michigan Avenue - Chicago's Magnificent Mile! From Tiffany's to Filene's Basement, you will find a complete range of retailers. In addition to flagship stores for the country's best known specialty chains (Crate and Barrel, Borders Books, H&M, The Gap, Pottery Barn, Ralph Lauren, Banana Republic, Niketown, Disney, American Girl) Michigan Avenue has four vertical shopping malls with department store anchors: Water Tower Place (Marshall Field's, Lord and Taylor), 900 North Michigan (Bloomingdale's), Chicago Place (Saks Fifth Avenue), and North Bridge (Nordstrom's).
Sightseeing
“Tourist-Central” is the Chicago Water Works across from the Old Water Tower at Michigan Avenue and Pearson Street. Here you can browse in the Visitors Information Center and gift shop, get a bite at Flatsammies, buy theater tickets at Hot-Tix, or get on a sightseeing bus or horse drawn carriage for a guided tour. The Observatory at the John Hancock Center, 875 North Michigan Avenue, takes you up to perhaps the most dramatic view of the city, as you look down 96 stories to Oak Street Beach.
Much of the Gold Coast consists of historically significant residential buildings from the turn of the twentieth century. The most pleasant strolling streets are Bellevue, Cedar, and Elm (running east/west south of Division Street) and Astor, State, and Dearborn (running north/south north of Division Street). A nearby house museum that is often not included in the tourist guidebooks is the Charnley-Persky House. Located at 1365 North Astor Street at Schiller, this house was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright while he was employed by Louis Sullivan. It shows the influence of two of America's most celebrated architects! Now owned by the Society of Architectural Historians, the house is open for tours Wednesdays and Saturdays.
Fitness
For jogging, nothing beats the lakefront beaches and running trails. (Take the pedways at either Division Street or Oak to cross under "the Drive" or run up to the North Avenue underpass). There are also full-line fitness clubs in the neighborhood that offer daily use memberships.
The recently reconstructed North Avenue Beach House is designed to look like an Art Deco cruise ship planted on the beach. During the summer, you can rent bicycles or roller blades, buy a snack, or have a meal or drink at the upper level restaurant, where you can watch the swimmers, sunbathers, and volley ball players. It's also great for evening sunset watching, when there's often a live band.
Restaurants
From Biggs Mansion to Dublin's Pub and the well known Gibson's, Morton's & Carmine's, the Gold Coast neighborhood offers more than 30 restaurants within a few blocks.
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